Tap for dancing slippers or shoes



W. J. HANEY TAP FOR DANCING SLIPPERS 0R SHOES Filed March 25, 1930Irwenlor By 2mm A llomey Patented Nov. 4, 1930 UNITED ST'E'ES WILLIAMJOHN E or some mm, NDIANA TAP FOR DANCING strrrnnson snons Applicationfiled March 25, 193 0. Serial Nq. 438 ,791.

The object of my present invention is the provision of a hard rigid tapdesigned to be affixed to and used on a dancing slipper or shoe andparticularly the toe portion thereof, and calculated to confer on thetaps a loud ring, enable a dancer to produce the tapping noise withminimum exertion, and prevent the dancer from slipping on hardwoodfloors.

To the attainment ofthe foregoing the invention consists in the tap ashereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a View partly in full lines andpartly in dotted lines showing my improved tap affixed to the toeportion of a dancing slipper.

Figure 2 is an inverted plan View of the tap per se.

Figures 3 and 4 are enlarged sections taken in the planes indicated bythe lines 3-8 and 4t, respectively, of Figure 2.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all ofthe views of the drawings.

The shoe 1 represented by dotted lines in Figure 1 may be of theconventional construction or of any other type on which my novel tap maybe used to advantage.

My novel tap is hard and rigid in character and may be made of anymaterial appropriate to its purpose without affecting my invention,though I prefer to make it of metal or of a suitable metallic alloy.

The tap designated by 2 is preferably of the outline shown in Figure 2and is concavo-convex as brought out in Figures 3 and 4: in order toenable itto bear at its front and side edges against the slipper soleand afford a space between it and said sole which space is open at therear end of the tap as will be appreciated from Figures 2 and 4. Anysuitable means may be employed, within the purview of my invention, forthe fixing of the tap to a slipper or shoe, though I prefer to providethe tap with a multiplicity of apertures 3 about and spaced from thelarge aperture hereinafter described, for the passage of affixing meansor attaching means which may be of any character compatible with thepurpose of the tap.

My present invention resides chiefly in the tap as just describedcharacterized by a large aperture a extending transversely through tiietap in communication with said space and arranged, by preference, in oradjacent to the '4 enter of the tap. I have learned through eX- perieucethat the said large aperture 4 in the hard tap of the form-describedenables the tap to afford a loud ring when the tap is struck against afloor sov that the desirable tapping noise is produced with a minimumamount of exertion on the part ofthe dancer. The said lar 'e aperture. 4in the tap is also advantageous because when provided with the aperture,as i, the tap grips the stage or floor and lessens the liability of thedancer slipping particularly when the dancing is carried 011 on .ahardwood floor.

It will also be appreciated from the foregoing that by virtue of theaperture i the improved efiect alluded to is attained without materiallyincreasing the cost of the tap.

I have entered into a detailed description of the preferred embodimentof my invention herein disclosed with a view to imparting a full, clearand exact understanding of said embodiment. I do not desire, however, tobe limited to the details herein set forth, my invention being definedby my appended claims within the scope of which $3 modifications may bemade without departure from my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is 1. A hard rigidtap for dancing slippers adapted to be affixed to the underside of thehole of a slipper or shoe; said tap being conoavo-convex in section toafford a space between its upper side and the underside of the sole andbeing provided adjacent to its edges with apertures for attachingpurposes and being further provided within and spaced from saidapertures with a comparatively large aperture extending transverselythrough it and communicating with the said space.

2. A hard rigid tap for dancing slippers or shoes, adapted to be aflixedto the underside of the sole of a slipper or shoe, the said tap beingconcavo-convex in section to afford a space between its upper side andthe underside of a sole and to enable its forward and side edges aloneto bear against the sole, and being provided adjacent its edge portionwith a plurality of apertures for attaching purposes and being alsoprovided in spaced relation to said apertures with a large apertureextending transversely through it and communicating with the said space.

3. A dancing slipper or shoe having attached to the underside of itssole a hard rigid tap with a substantially central free apertureextending upwardly from its underside; the said underside of the tapbeing convex in all directions from the wall of the said free aperture.

4. A hard rigid tap for dancing slippers adapted to be afiixed to theunderside of the sole of a slipper or shoe; said tap beingconcavo-convex in section to aflord a space be tween its upper side andthe underside of the sole and being provided with a substantiallycentral aperture extending transversely through it and open at its outerend and communicating at its inner end with the said space.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM JOHN HANEY.

